Pakistan’s military said seven India-backed militants were killed in an intelligence-based security operation in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday. The Inter-Services Public Relations agency, or ISPR, identified them as Fitna al-Khawarij militants. A 27-year-old army officer, Captain Hamza Akram of Narowal district in Punjab, was killed during the exchange of fire.

According to the ISPR statement, security forces launched the operation after receiving information about the militants’ presence in the area. The military said troops effectively engaged the militants, who at one stage took shelter inside a mosque. Seven militants were killed in firing between the two sides, the statement said.

The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from those killed. It alleged that they had been actively involved in numerous militant activities against security forces and law-enforcement agencies, as well as killings of innocent civilians. A sanitisation operation is continuing in the area to eliminate India-backed militants, according to the military’s statement.